The simmering discontent within sections of the IFA has erupted in Kerry following the decision of Castlemaine branch to forward a motion of “no confidence” in senior national officer, Martin Stapleton, to the county executive.

Stapleton is IFA national treasurer, national returning officer, and chair of the important rules and privileges committee.

A senior officer in Kerry IFA confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that a motion of no confidence had been received by the county executive from Castlemaine branch.

The “no confidence” motion is linked to the handling of a complaint made to the rules and privileges committee by a member of the Castlemaine branch.

The complaint relates to an incident at an IFA meeting in February 2019 in which a Castlemaine branch member alleges that he was insulted.

The individual complained to the IFA’s rules and privileges committee following the incident but is unhappy with the manner in which his grievance has been handled.

The IFA has made no comment on the matter.

This latest controversy within IFA follows on from the continuing dispute between the association and its hill chair Flor McCarthy.

McCarthy has been accused of potentially breaching the IFA’s rules and code of conduct by the manner in which he has publicly opposed the association’s stance on CAP reform.

The south Kerry farmer was recently informed that potential breaches of IFA’s rules and code of conduct will be independently reviewed. This process will be undertaken by Gareth Kyne, formerly of Ibec.

In a letter to last week’s Irish Farmers Journal, IFA veteran Derek Deane questioned why Stapleton and the rules and privileges committee were not dealing directly with the Flor McCarthy review.

“If he [Stapleton] feels he cannot deal with this ‘storm in a teacup’, I believe he [Stapleton] should consider his position,” Deane wrote.